An explosion at a chemical plant in Ojimamachi,
Gunma Prefecture, on Saturday killed four people,
including company employees, and injured 22
others including local residents.

The flames from the explosion, which occurred
at about 6:05 p.m., demolished the plant, which
belongs to the Tokyo-based Nisshin Chemical
Co. Several buildings in the area were also
destroyed, due to the powerful blast of wind
created by the explosion.

. . .

According to a local fire department official,
the plant manufactured various kinds of
hydroxylamine, which is used in the processing
of semiconductors and as an ingredient in medicine
and pesticides.

Daily Yomiuri On-Line

-- spider (spider0@usa.net), June 12, 2000